If you weren’t paying attention, you could be forgiven for expecting a George Clooney cameo as Downton Abbey returned for its fifth season.

Royal Bank of Scotland Group is weighing up the sale of over €400m of Irish hotel assets.

Richard E. Grant is set to appear on 'Downton Abbey'.

Downton Abbey star Allen Leech has revealed his own mother told him off for failing to warn her about a character’s shocking death on Christmas Day last year.

About two dozen activists have rallied in St Petersburg to protest against a new Russian law banning gay “propaganda” and attract attention of the leaders of the world’s 20 leading economies.

Derry City 1 Drogheda United 3

Dairy farmers need to learn from the mistakes of the property boom and not leap into post-quota expansion just because everyone else is doing it, warns risk assessor John Crawley.

AIRTRICITY PREMIER DIVISION

AIRTRICITY PREMIER DIVISION:

Cork City 0 Derry City 1

Derry City 1 Drogheda Utd 1

Hit drama Downton Abbey has been given a fourth series as ITV bosses warned viewers to have their “tissues ready” for the show’s Christmas tearjerker.

Waterford United 1 Longford Town 1

Limerick FC maintained their three-point lead at the top of the First Division following this stalemate with second-placed Longford Town at Jackman Park last night.

Longford Town got their promotion bid back on track with a first win in four as they brushed aside SD Galway in front of just 119 fans at Eamon Deacy Park last night.

A Hollywood sneak peek of series three reveals fireworks between 'Downton Abbey' matriarchs Maggie Smith and newcomer Shirley MacLaine.

Two second half goals from substitutes Austin Skelly and Michael Lee ensured Longford Town claimed their second win over Waterford United this season and remain top of the Airtricity First Division.

Unbeaten Longford Town stretched their lead at the top of the First Division with a hard-fought win over high-flying Limerick at Jackman Park.

SD Galway ended the league’s only 100% record thanks to Enda Curran’s second-half penalty at Terryland Park.

VETERAN Alan Kirby’s 65th minute strike helped leaders Longford Town to a comfortable three points over Wexford Youths at Ferrycarrig Park last night.

High class costume drama Downton Abbey was among a clutch of British winners at this year’s Golden Globes, scooping the award for best television mini series.

EastEnders triumphed in the head-to-head battle with Downton Abbey in the UK as BBC1 kept with tradition by coming out on top in the Christmas Day ratings.

Nigel Havers is to star in the 'Downton Abbey' Christmas special.

SATURDAY

CORK CITY reclaimed second spot in the First Division with a win over Longford Town in Flancare Park on Saturday night.

Virgin Atlantic blew the whistle on an alleged price-fixing cartel with British Airways because it wanted to win the race for immunity and save itself millions of pounds, a British court heard today.

Mervue United 2 Shelbourne 4

Limerick 37 4 Dundalk 1

A NURSING HOME owner has defended the practice of using bandages to restrain elderly patients.

HAMPSHIRE began the defence of the C&G Trophy with a comprehensive eight-wicket victory over Ireland in Dublin, despite the absence of star names Shane Warne and Kevin Pietersen.

Hampshire began the defence of the C&G Trophy with a comprehensive eight-wicket victory over Ireland in Dublin, despite the absence of star names Shane Warne and Kevin Pietersen.

Cork City 2 Shelbourne 0

Shelbourne could be without five players through suspension for the opening match of the season against Bray Wanderers after David Crawley and Greg O’Halloran were sent off in last night’s 3-0 friendly victory over Shamrock Rovers.

CORK CITY took a significant step closer to the eircom League title when they defeated champions Shelbourne in front of a packed and passionate Turner's Cross last night.

Shelbourne 4 Glentoran 1 (Shelbourne win 6-2 on aggregate)

Glentoran boss Roy Coyle shook up his strike-force for the second leg of the Champions League first qualifying round clash with Shelbourne at Tolka Park tonight.

SHELBOURNE’S David Crawley will be fit to play in the second leg of Shelbourne’s Champions’ League qualifier against Glentoran at Tolka Park tomorrow evening.

Hot-shot Jason Byrne’s second-half brace ensured Shelbourne claimed first-leg honours in their all-Ireland Champions League showdown with Glentoran.

Shelbourne 1 Waterford 0

St Patrick’s Athletic 0 Shelbourne 0

Ollie Cahill and Dave Crawley have committed their futures to Shelbourne by signing new deals with the eircom League leaders.

Joseph Ndo replaces Glen Fitzpatrick in the starting line-up for tonight's Champions League tie with Spanish giants Deportivo La Coruna.